Tigers open American Athletic Conference play at Navy

Saturday, September 8

Annapolis, Md.

2:30 p.m. CT

University of Memphis

Navy

Tickets

Darrell Henderson rushed for 76 yards and a TD in the Tigers' season-opening win over Mercer.

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers open American Athletic Conference play at Navy

Sep 07, 2018 | Football

Memphis Notes (vs. Navy)Navy Notes (vs. Memphis)American Athletic Conference Notes

Midshipmen will present option-oriented challenge

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – What would have happened a year ago this week will take place Saturday at Annapolis, Md.

For the first time since 2010, the University of Memphis will open conference play two weeks into the season when the Tigers play Navy in an American Athletic Conference game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. CBS Sports Network will carry the game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Memphis was scheduled to battle UCF in AAC play the second week of last season, but the path of Hurricane Irma intervened and the game was moved to Sept. 30.

The Tigers (1-0) are coming off an impressive 66-14 victory over Mercer last weekend at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, a game in which quarterback Brady White passed for 358 yards and five touchdowns. The performance by White, an Arizona State transfer, represented the best debut by a Tigers' quarterback in the program's history.

White compiled the yardage and the touchdowns in the first half as Memphis built a 56-0 advantage. He was replaced by freshman Brady McBride, who played the second half.

The Tigers amassed 752 total yards (428 passing, 324 rushing) to nearly set a school record. The game marked the first time Memphis had passed for more than 400 yards and rushed for more than 300 yards in the same game. Running back Darrell Henderson gained 76 yards on nine rushes.

Defensively, the Tigers held Mercer to 37 yards and a first own in the opening half. Defense back TJ Carter returned an interception for a touchdown.

"I thought it was a great experience," said Tigers coach Mike Norvell. "To see our defense and the way they attacked that first half of play was incredible."

Navy will present a greater challenge. The Midshipmen's option-oriented attack produced 326 rushing yards in a season-opening loss at Hawaii last weekend.

"There have been incredible battles over the last few years between these two programs," Norvell said. "This team is coming off a difficult loss. They traveled halfway across the world and got off to an uncharacteristic start. They got behind early against a really impressive Hawaii group.

"Just like you'd expect, they responded. They made it a 10-point game there late in the matchup but just weren't able to finish it off. We know we are going to get their best game. It'll be a 60-minute fight, just like every time Memphis and Navy have played each other. "

The Tigers and Midshipmen are playing for the fourth-straight season. Memphis earned its first win in five tries against Navy last season with a 30-27 victory at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Navy won, 42-28, two years ago at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

QUICK HITS

Memphis is 15-27 in conference openers and had won three straight before falling to UCF last season.
By scoring 66 points in the season-opener, the Tigers reached 60 or more points for the fifth time under coach Mike Norvell. Norvell is in his third season.
Navy reached the red zone five times in last weekend's 59-41 loss at Hawaii and scored touchdowns on each occasion.
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is in his 11^th season at Annapolis and is 84-49 overall.
Despite falling behind, 38-14, at the half, Navy passed only 13 times at Hawaii.